Door operating mechanism having motor actuator



1955 B. A. ANDREWS 2,715,662

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM HAVING MOTOR ACTUATOR Filed Aug. 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l HTWRNEK & f w; W 8 Q O O Q 0 o O 0 O o g O .L O 0 o m 0 O 8 0 O 8 \Q ..t O m 13 8 O 1 o i 8 Q J 8 o Za O O O O O 8 o m 0 L 8 9 o a O O Q I I o w @i N \x A i m INVENTOR. qg ggg g gglg fio/eg/ AZ fi/raews BY g Aug. 16, 1955 B. A. ANDREWS DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM HAVING MOTOR ACTUATOR 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15. 1951 & INVENTOR. fio/ey A. Awaken .5

A! TTORNEK Unite E tates ,f atent dice DOOR OPERATENG MECHANISM HAVING MOTGR ACTUATOR Boley A. Andrews, Kansas City, Kane, assignor to The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application August 13, 1951, Serial No. 241,550

4 Claims. (Cl. ZOO-47) This invention relates to garage door opener mechanism adapted for operation through use of an electric motor forming a part thereof and including a reciprocable follower operably connected to the door for shifting the latter to and from an open position disposed beneath the ceiling of the garage or in a substantially horizontal plane above the uppermost edge of the door opening.

This invention relates to the subject matter of a copending application, Serial No. 736,684, filed March 24, 1947, now patent No. 2,574,684, Nov. 13, 1951, entitled Door Controlling Mechanism And Limit Switch and in the names of the applicant hereof and one George VI. Pro, and is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 61,473, filed November 22, 1948, now abandoned entitled Motor Actuated Door Operator.

The electric circuit for controlling the motor of the door actuating mechanism hereof, and shown in part hereby, forms the subject matter of my co-pending application, Serial No. 241,551 filed on even date herewith, now abandoned, and entitled Electric Motor Circuit For Door Controlling Mechanism.

Reference may be had to my U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,558,032, dated June 26, 1951, for disclosure of a similar motor control circuit. The aforesaid motor circuit may be placed in operation either through the provision of one or more manual control switches located on the garage or at points remote therefrom, or through the medium of a relay connected therewith and placed in operation by means of the generation of supersonic sound waves.

A co-pending application filed on even date herewith and entitled Sound Generator And Transmitter For Door Controlling Mechanism discloses structure for creating such sound waves and adapted for operation by the vacuum line of an automobile. An assembly for receiving the sound waves and converting the same into energy capable of actuating the aforesaid relay, forms the subject matter of another co-pending application filed on even date herewith and entitled Electronic Control Unit For Door Controlling Mechanism, said patent and all of the aforesaid co-pending applications having a common assignee.

It is the most important object of the present invention to improve upon the door controlling mechanism of my said co-pending application Serial No. 61,473, and particularly upon the torque control therein set forth by provision of a more positively operating, spring-loaded limit means for the swinging motor and speed reducer provided as a safety measure to automatically open a switch within the motor circuit in the event of overload on the electric motor.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a motor actuator for door control mechanism Another important object of this invention is to provide a switch and relay control assembly that includes a cam mounted on a follower forming apart of the door actuator for actuating a bar that is in turn connected with a reversing switch for the reversible electric motor, together with a relay forming a part of the motor circuit.

A further object hereof is to provide an elongated bar as just above set forth capable of oscillating on its transverse axis and having projections within the path of travel of the cam member for swinging the bar as the follower and cam reciprocate along an elongated track therefor.

Other objects include the way in which the reversing switch is provided with an actuator arm pivotally connected with a portion of the bar; the manner of providing an elongated plunger within the path of travel of the actuator arm; the way in which the relay is provided with a trip member within the path of travel of the plunger; and many additional, more minor objects including details of construction of the operating mechanism, together with the manner of associating the controls above set forth therewith.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical, cross-sectional view through a garage showing a door therefor, together with door operating mechanism having a motor actuator made pursuant to the present invention.

Fig. 2a is an enlarged, fragmentary, inverted, elevational view of one end of the mechanism, a portion of the hollow case or housing forming a part thereof, being entirely removed.

Fig. 2b is an inverted plan view, parts being broken away for clearness and illustrating the remainder of such mechanism, i. e. that end thereof proximal to the door shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary, side elevational View showing that part of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2a remote from the garage door.

Fig. 3b is a continuation of Fig. 3a and a side elevational view of thatpart of the mechanism shown by Fig. 2b, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3a, parts being broken away and showing the cable-receiving drum that is connected to the drive shaft of the speed reducer.

A garage or other building structure shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings is broadly designated by the numeral 10 and includes a vertical wall 12 having an access opening 14 therein that is in turn normally closed by a conventional door 16 that is composed of a number of articulated sections as is clearly shown by said figure.

A pair of opposed tracks, one only if which is illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings and designated by the numeral 18, is provided to guide the door 16 from its normally closed position to a position where the entire door 16 is disposed in substantially a horizontal plane. Girders 20 forming a part of the garage 10, are normally utilized to support the track 18 and in accordance with the present invention, the operating mechanism hereof is likewise adapted for support by such girders 20.

The means for moving door 16 through the aforesaid path of travel and forming the subject matter hereof, includes an elongated track broadly designated by the numeral 22 and including a pair of substantially identical track portions 24, each of which is U-shaped in crosssection and disposed in facing relationship to reciprocably receive an elongated follower block 26 for sliding movement therein. The track 22 is preferably disposed in a horizontal plane beneath the girders 20 to which it is afiixed for movement of the follower block 26 toward and away from the wall 12 of the building structure 10. One end of the block 26 is bifurcated as in clearly shown in Fig. 2b of the drawings, and a transverse pivot pin 28 pivotally receives one end of a connector 30 (Fig. 1) that is also pivotally joined to a bracket 32 on door 16.

The precise construction of the connector 30 forms no part of the present invention and is fully disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 61,475, filed November 22, 1948, and entitled Releasable Hitch For Door Actuating Mechanism.

That end of the track 22 adjacent the wall 12 is provided with a U-shaped connector 34 for the sections 24 of track 22, a plurality of bolts 36 serving to join the connector 34 to the track 22. A substantially U-shaped yoke 38 shiftably disposed within the track 22, has an idler pulley 40 disposed between the legs thereof and rotatably carried by a vertical shaft 42 between the track portions 24 and secured to such legs of the yoke 38.

An elongated, vertical bar 44, on the inner face of the bight of yoke 38, receives a pair of adjusting bolts 46 that are in turn secured to the bight of the U-shaped connector 34. Connector 34 may be utilized if desired, to support the proximal end of track 22 on one of the girders 20 and/or end wall 12 of building 10.

A rotatable drum 48 between the track sections 24 at that end of the track 22 remote from the end wall 12 of building 10, is spleened as at 50 to a vertical driven shaft 52 (Fig. 4) and forming a part of a speed reducer broadly designated by the numeral 54 (Figs. 2a and 3a). A flexible cable 56 coiled about the drum 48, extends from the latter and is coiled about the idler pulley 40, there being cable stretches 58 and 68 Within each track portion 24 respectively. One side edge of the follower block 26 is provided with a U-shaped bracket 62 having a pair of spaced-apart, horizontal, perforated legs as is clear in Figs. 2b and 3b, for threadably receiving the cable stretch 58.

An elongated tube 64 on the cable stretch 58 between the legs of bracket 62, is crimped at a number of points as at 66 or otherwise secured directly to the cable section 58 whereby to attach the latter to the bracket 62.

That end of the track 22 remote from wall 12, extends into a hollow casing or housing broadly designated by the numeral 68, all but top plate 70 of housing 68 being removed in Figs. 2a and 3a of the drawings. Housing 68 and particularly top plate 70 thereof, has a pair of opposed, horizontal flanges 72 thereon each provided with a longitudinally extending row of openings 74, and selectively adaptable to receive suitable fastening elements for joining the housing 68 to girders 20 or the like within the building 10.

The shaft 52 of speed reduced 54 depends from the track 22 as shown in Fig. 3a and speed reducer 54, as well as an electric motor 76, secured to the speed reducer 54, are supported solely by the shaft 52 for swinging movement on the vertical axis of the latter.

Motor 76 is provided with a drive shaft in the usual manner and the same is operably connected with the driven shaft 52 through the medium of a train of gears forming a part of the speed reducer 54 and not herein illustrated. A plate 78 secured to the upper face of speed reducer 54, extends laterally in an arm 80 disposed substantially radially with respect to the shaft 52 and having a U-shaped bracket 82 on the lower face thereof, together with a small plate 84 depending from the arm 80, plate 78, arm 80, bracket 82 and plate 84 all being swingable with the speed reducer 54 as the latter and the motor 76 swing on the vertical axis of shaft 52.

A U-shaped bracket 86 depending from the track 22 to which it is secured, receives a frusto-conical reflector at the bight thereof for an electric lamp (not shown) insertable within a socket 90 at the apex of the reflector 88. The rigidly mounted bracket 86 also mounts a stationary stop member 92 that depends from the bight of bracket 86 having an opening 94 therein for receiving a bolt 96 that extends laterally from that face of the stop member 92 opposite to the reflector 88. The bolt 96 passes loosely between the arm and the bracket 82 and has a spring 98 coiled thereon.

A pair of opposed cups 100 on the bolt 96, receive the spring 98 and one of the cups 100 rests directly on the proximal edges of arm 80 and bracket 82.

A safety switch 102 secured to the stop member 92 has a reciprocable, spring-loaded actuating plunger 104 normally engaged by the plate 34 for holding the switch 102 closed. One of the track portions 24 has a plurality of L-shaped brackets 106 on the side thereof for receiving an elongated, polygonal, horizontal bar 108 for oscillatory movement on its longitudinal axis, and transverse keys or the like 110 in the bar 108, adjacent one of the brackets 106, restrains the bar 108 against movement on its longitudinal axis.

A pair of spaced, U-shaped projections 112 and 114 are rigidly secured to the bar 108, the projection 112 having an ear 116 extending laterally from the bight thereof and the projection 114 having an ear 118 on a portion 120 extending from the bight of projection 114.

A cam plate 122 on the follower 26, projects laterally beyond the track 22 in partial overlapping relationship to the bar 108 and has an inclined cam edge 124 thereon. A third U-shaped projection 126 on the bar 108 disposed within the housing 68, has an arm 128 on one leg thereof and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of bar 108, provided with an opening for pivotally receiving a spherical element 138 on actuating arm 132 forming a part of a reversible electric switch 134 for the electric circuit of reversible motor 76, switch 134 being carried by an L-shaped bracket 136 on that track portion 24 having brackets 106 thereon.

Plate 70 of housing 68 carries a relay broadly designated by the numeral 138 having a pair of normally open, spring-loaded poles 140 and a coil 142 adapted when energized, to attract the poles 140 and thereby close the same. An L-shaped trip 144 has a horizontal leg 146 between coil 142 and the poles 140 and a vertical leg 148 within the path of travel of a reciprocable, insulated plunger 150 carried by a U-shaped bracket 152 depending from plate 70. The leg 146 of the trip 144 is pivotally carried by a portion 154 forming a part of the relay 138 and the trip 144 is held biased in the position shown in Fig. 3a by a spring 156 interconnecting the leg 146 of trip 144 adjacent the leg 148 and a projection 158 on portion 154. That end of the plunger 150 opposite to the trip 144 has an adjustable screw 160 provided with a dome-shaped head within the path of travel of the spherical portion 130 of switch actuating arm 132.

By way of explanation, the motor circuit of my copending application above mentioned and entitled Electric Motor Circuit For Door Controlling Mechanism, includes relay 138, reversing switch 134 and safety switch 102. When the motor circuit is initially closed, either manually or through the automatic supersonic sound structure above mentioned, coil 142 of relay 138 is immediately energized, attracting the poles 140 and thereby closing the same, one of the poles 140 being within a holding circuit for relay 138. Motor 76 is thereupon immediately energized for travel in a direction to either move the follower 26 away from wall 12 to open the door 16 or toward the wall 12 to close the door 16, depending upon the position of the reversing switch 134.

Assuming the door 16 to be closed, operation of motor 76 in one direction, rotates the shaft 52 and thereby the drum 48 to shift the follower block 26 toward the housing 68. Because of the connection 30 between block 26 and the door 16, the latter will be moved to the open horizontal position. As the block 26 and particularly, the cam plate 122, approach the housing 68, edge 124 of plate 122 will contact the car 118 of extension 114, thereby swinging the bar 108 on its longitudinal axis in one direction. Such swinging movement is imparted to the extension 126 and the arm 128 to actuate the arm 132 of switch 134 and thereby reversing the same to place motor 76 in a stand-by condition for operation in the opposite direction to close the door 16. Simultaneously, with the reversing of switch 134, spherical portion 130 of the arm 132 engages the domed end of screw 160 to move the plunger 150 toward the relay 138.

Plunger 150 comes into contact with, the leg 148 of trip 144, swinging the latter against the action of spring 156 to move the leg 146 of trip 144 against the poles 140 and thereby opening relay 138 regardless of the holding circuit above mentioned.

When the motor circuit is again closed, motor 76 will rotate in the opposite direction, by virtue of the reversing of switch 134, to shift the follower 26 toward the wall 12, thereby closing the door 16. As the edge 124 of plate 122 comes into contact with the ear 116 of ex tension 112, the bar 108 will be oscillated in the opposite direction to return the switch arm 132 to the position shown in Fig. 3a. The plunger 150 will again be actuated to operate trip 144 and thereby open the relay 138.

In the event the door 16 jams during its movement to the closed position, thereby throwing an overload on the motor 76, safety switch 102 within the motor circuit, will open to deenergize the motor 76. Such overload tends to cause swinging movement of motor 76, speed reducer 54, arm 80, bracket 82 and plate 84 about the axis of shaft 52, against the action of spring 98. As plate 84 moves away from spring-loaded plunger 104, switch 102 will open.

The same operation takes place if for some reason relay 138 fails to open when the door 16 reaches the lower limits of its path of travel since such overload on the motor 76 will automatically open switch 102.

There is also provided in the motor circuit, and as fully disclosed in my last mentioned co-pending application, a circuit breaker within the circuit for motor 76 capable of opening automatically and deenergizing the motor 76 whenever an overload appears in the circuit thereby protecting the assembly whenever the door 16 jams either during movement to the open position or to the closed position.

A transformer 162 and terminal supports 164, 166 and 168 for the motor circuit, are carried within the housing 68 on top plate 70 and an electrical connecting box 170 is provided on one end of the housing 68.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In control mechanism having a motor, an elongated track and a motor driven follower reciprocably carried by the track, an elongated bar parallel with the path of travel of the follower and mounted on the track for osci lation on its transverse axis; means for holding the bar against longitudinal movement; a pair of spaced projections rigidly mounted on the bar; a reversing switch connected to the bar for movement thereby and coupled electrically with said motor; and a cam member on the follower engageable with one projection when the follower moves toward one end of the track for moving the bar in one direction to actuate the switch, and engageable with the other projection when the follower moves toward the opposite end of the track for moving the bar in the opposite direction to actuate the switch.

2. In control mechanism having a motor, an elongated track and a motor driven follower reciprocably carried by the track, an elongated bar parallel with the path of travel of the follower and mounted on the track for oscillation on its transverse axis; means for holding the bar against longitudinal movement; a pair of spaced projections rigidly mounted on the bar; a reversing switch connected to the bar for movement thereby and coupled electrically with said motor; a cam member on the follower engageable with one projection when the follower moves toward one end of the track for moving the bar in one direction to actuate the switch, and engageable with the other projection when the follower moves toward the opposite end of the track for moving the bar in the opposite direction to actuate the switch; a reciprocable plunger disposed for movement each time the bar is moved; and a relay having parts within the path of travel of the plunger for actuation thereby.

3. In control mechanism having a motor, an elongated track and a motor driven follower reciprocably carried by the track, an elongated bar mounted on the track for movement on its transverse axis; a pair of spaced projections on the bar; a reversing switch having a swingable actuator arm connected to the bar for movement thereby, said switch being coupled electrically with said motor; a cam member on the follower engageable with one projection when the follower moves toward one end of the track for moving the bar in one direction to actuate the switch, and engageable with the other projection when the follower moves toward the opposite end of the track for moving the bar in the opposite direction to actuate the switch; a relay having a trip member; and means within the path of travel of said actuator arm for operating said trip member each time the bar is moved.

4. In control mechanism as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cam member is provided with an element slidably engageable on one side thereof with said one projection and 011 the opposite side thereof with the other projection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNXTED STATES PATENTS 2,345,928 Foster Apr. 4, 1914 2,424,385 Cook July 22, 1947 2,459,479 Wineland Jan. 18, 1949 2,484,781 Cofiey Oct. 11, 1949 2,574,684 Andrews Nov. 13, 1951 2,583,662 Noble Jan. 29, 1952 

